Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-01
A STRANGE DELIVERANCE.
BY l.. B. WILSON.

BY L. B. WILSON.
There was a touch of comedy about
the tirst and a decided tragedy in the
latter scenes OF a drama in real life, in
which played, involuntarily, Lead
ing part, which has always been inter-
esting in its telling, and may be equal
ly so when written and read.
1t was about a. month after the
close of the civil war, when I: was
stationed at q town on the Missis.
s'ppi, in Louisiana, busily engaged, in
connection with my duties as provost
marshal Of the division and district,
in naroling the many ex-confederates
who were constantly coming in, most
OF them sick and worn, all hungry and
dirty.
Old Colonel c., a good "rebel' and
line gentleman, considered himself un.
der obligations to me for sending to
his home in an ambulance his young,
brave, gray-coated and very sick
soldier-son, and he continually in
vited me to accept OF his hearty old
fashioned southern hospitality at the
home plantation about eight miles
from our post. He had three young
daughters, good rebels all, but pretty,
bright, sensible ladies, whose political
opinions never tainted their courtesy.
l was glad to seek such pleasant
company and often did so.
l received notice one day from the
colonel that the next Sunday would
be Miss Georgia's birthday, that my
presence would add to joyousness OF
the occasion, and that there would be
ample home products for egg.nogg,
which latter intimatlon I we'll under
stood to mean that would be great
iy thanked If | brought the spirituous
ingredients for that seductive con-
Coction.
EARLY on the day mentioned T
mounted with two canteens, one OF
whiskey and one OF Jamaica rum,
fastened on my saddle bow, and
with no weapons. Necessity re
qulred that I should be in uniform
passing through our troops and lines.
and as the day was very, very warm,
l wore only a. flannel undershirt be-
meath my closet -buttoneu double
breasted coat, and strapped behind
me a clean white garment and two
collars polished in the best style of
the laundry art. Iknew Iwould have
to throw off my tight-ftting char
ness" on my arrival to put onSthe
light gray jacket the colonel ALWAYS in
sisted suited me better than the blue
and brass, and Il wanted to look
''nice.'; =
The road was long, hot and terribly
dusty. About 500 yards from nv
place Of destination I stopped, picket
ed my horse inside the fence, retired
to a thick grove Of high underbrush.. I
we'll knew, and through which ran g.
little stream of clear water. disrob.
ed and sbathed; then, fresh, cool and
clean,I proceeded to prepare for in
spection and review. was struggling
with the .overstarched .n.biled shirt"
head and arms hidden; when through
the mufling / heard the cracking of
twigs. AS I thrust my head, with hair
all tumbled, through thu bosom open
ing OF the garment, ! looked directly
into the muzzles Of three revolvers
and one shotgun, all held within five
feet OF and on aline with my head in
q manner not calculated to il crease
a mans appetite for the contents.
Behind each weapon was villain
Gus outlaw, specimens Of that class
who we're rebels and murderers with
Union men and murderers and Yam
KEGS with the confederates; men twho
met with no mercy or sympathy from
the trne soldiers OF either side. Worse
still, / recognized from descriptions
often given me that one of the party
was Mat Kingsley, whose house near
the post ] had been forced to take as
asmall-pox hospital. and whom Ihad
heard vowed vengeance upon me for
the act.
There was nothing to do but t'throw
up my hands," and did it. There
was no use in arguing or pleading with
such q gang, so put . bold front on
the matter and tried to compromise.
& had q couple of hundred dollars in
greenbacks in my pocket, aud these
with my horse offered If they would
free me. They laughed the PROPOSE
ton TO scorn. They had me and ali
these belonging to me, and Intended
to part with nothing. They had not
expected such luck as finding me, be-
ing on their way to some other coward
II thieving exped ition, and securing
me was a prize unexpected.
. Quickly as possible I was stripped
OF every piece of clio thing, and made
to replace it with the ragged, vermin-
infested rags Of my captors. Twas